Getting Closer!

[keykeeper]

So, you suffer from the over-thinker'er malady, also, Frosty? Must be an ailment common to blacksmither'ers! My problem is that during my overthinkedness-ing, I have attacks of brain flatulence.

By the way Piglet, I think the selective waterfall stock coolerator idea is brilliant.

[Frosty]

You COULD say I like my options open and contingencies planned.

I'm not completely hopeless though, there've even been times things came out as planned!

On the whole though I'm one of those guys who get's positively giddy over meeting the boys at the coffee shop with graph paper and wild ideas for simple problems.

Frosty

[Finnr]

Frosty!!! Seems we think a lot the same. Swapping ideas over a few gallons of coffee is FUN!!!
Finnr

[Frosty]

Ayup! Next time Deb and I visit the mid-west we should have a coffee-in and swap techniques, tricks and tips.

And who knows if fire happens . . .

I married a Uper on an internet deal.

Frosty

[Finnr]

COME ON DOWN!!!!! LOL!
Finnr

[ThomasPowers]

That would certainly help; you could always armour it with a thin piece of sheet metal if you needed to.

If you have access to a good weldor you could weld a piece of stout sq tubing to the web to use as a hardy hole---it's a fairly high carbon steel and so would require pre/post heat treat though.

Frosty; try coming down when you can get to Quad-State too!

[Frosty]

Use an old 1" drive impact socket welded flush with the face for your hardy.

As soon as we get some things squared away around here Deb and I plan on doing some traveling. She wants to hit goat shows and visit breeders. I'm looking to hit smithing conferences and visit smiths. So far our travels have worked out pretty well.

Quad State would be good. Pennsic too.

Frosty

[piglet_74]

I was wondering about that actually. I have a cheap flux core mig that I do some odd things with. I wasn't sure what the rail was made of though so i figured I could just stick it together with that and see. I'll have to dig up some info on it. I'm better with OA and I know that throws some heat into the base metal so maybe that would be a good route. The other thing I was thinking was just making "hardies" that have a slot to the bottom of them that sits on the webbing. I guess that depends on the use though.

I really need to get some heat together and start using it because I think that'll show me what things work and which don't. I almost had one of the kids hold the rosebud for me while I played around. The nephew was cute looking with a welding jacket, leather apron, goggles, gloves, boots... That's not a good permanent setup though!

Rob

PS. Frosty, Pennsic, like the SCA thing?

[ThomasPowers]

Does this help any?---I have a file on what I consider good info on RR steels:

I am citing the Arema (The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association) 2007 document, Part 2 "manufacture of Rail"

Standard rail steel:
.74 to.86% Carbon,
.75 to 1.25% Manganese,
.10 to .60% Silicon
Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310 or 370 dependant of grade ordered.

Low Alloy Rail Steel
.72 to .82% Carbon,
.80 to 1.10% Manganese,
.25 to .40& Chromium,
.10 to .50% Silicon

Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310, 325, or 370 dependant of grade ordered.
My document shows the following breakdown for grades:
SS = standard strength (brinell 310)
HH = Head Hardened (brinell 370)
LA = Low Alloy Standard Strength (brinell 310)
IH = Low Alloy Intermediate (brinell 325)
LH = Low Alloy Head Hardened (brinell 370)

May differ for very old rail though.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by piglet_74

Frosty, Pennsic, like the SCA thing?

Yes, the very SCA thing. I've been invited to a traditional, period, scotch tasting party when I make it.

Rail isn't hard to work but it is HC and needs the appropriate care.

It cuts and drills just fine if you go slow and lubricate. I use my cutoff bandsaw, just cut from the flange towards the rail. The rail surface is induction hardened and will dull a saw blade, drillbit, etc. almost on contact. However, it's only a few thou thick so if you come at it from the back you're home free.

That is SO old west. If the opposition is too hard, sneak up and drill him from behind.

Frosty